Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
  • A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
  • A61L15/36—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons containing microorganisms
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
  • A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
  • A61L15/22—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons containing macromolecular materials
  • A61L15/28—Polysaccharides or their derivatives
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
  • A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
  • A61L15/42—Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties
  • A61L15/46—Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2300/00—Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices
  • A61L2300/40—Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices characterised by a specific therapeutic activity or mode of action
  • A61L2300/404—Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents

Definitions

• the present invention relates to absorbent articles of the kind that are worn in contact with the wearer's skin, such as diapers, incontinence protectors, sanitary napkins and like articles.
• the invention also relates to methods of reducing the undesired side effects that may sometimes occur when using such articles.
• Absorbent articles of this kind are known in many different forms.
• the absorbent body of such products is conventionally produced by dry-defibring cellulose pulp, e.g. cellulose pulp in roll, bale or sheet form, and converting the dry-defibred pulp in a fluffed state to a pulp mat, sometimes with an admixture of so-called superabsorbents.
• Superabsorbents are polymers that are able to absorb several times their own weight of water or body fluid.
• a typical problem relating to absorbent articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence protectors or the like is that their use can lead to undesired side effects, such as skin irritation and malodours.
• These problems can occur as a result of occlusion, the presence of moisture, and factors of a mechanical, microbial and enzymatic nature, all of which coact with and amplify the effect of one another to different extents. For instance, several undesired side effects can occur as a result of or in conjunction with an increase in pH.
• U.S. 3,794,034 describes the significance of pH in an absorbent article and also teaches impregnation of the article with buffering substances by means of which the pH in the article can be kept between 3.5-6.0, which is beneficial both with respect to the inhibition of the growth of undesired bacteria and therewith the occurrence of undesirable odours, and also in avoiding negative skin affects.
• EP 0.311,344 describes controlling pH in absorbent articles, wherein the buffering properties are obtained with the aid of a partially neutralised superabsorbent material and an antimicrobial substance chosen from among ordinaiy nitrogen-based compounds or bis-guanide compounds. The undesirable side effects can be reduced, by controlling the pH of the article so that it will not exceed a given level.
• an absorbent article that contains a synergistic combination of a) a pH-regulating substance in the form of a partially neutralised superabsorbent material, and b) lactic acid bacteria, where the pH value of said article subsequent to being wetted when worn against the skin lies in the range of 3.5-5.5, preferably within the range of 3.5-4.9, and most preferably within the range of 4.1-4.7.
• absorbent article as used in this document relates to absorbent articles that are worn against the skin, such as diapers, incontinence protectors and sanitary napkins.
• superabsorbent and the acronym “SAP” relates to polymers that are able to absorb several times their own weight of water or body fluid.
• a suitable partially neutralised superabsorbent material may be comprised of a cross-linked polyacrylate of the kind described in EP 0,392,108, although other types of superabsorbent material that have corresponding properties may alternatively be used.
• lactic acid bacteria and the abbreviation "LB” relate to a group of bacteria which produce lactic acid at normal fermentation.
• bacteria species that include strains belonging to this group are Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc and Pediococcus. Bacteria of the families Lactobacillus and Lactococcus are preferred.
• CTMP chemithermomechanical pulp
• the Term "CP” relates to chemical cellulose pulp.
• cfu relates to colony-forming units.
• Figure 1 shows an inventive diaper from that side which is intended to lie against the wearer in use
• Figuie 2 is a stack diagiam lllustiatmg the cultivatation of Escherichia coli in an absorbent article containing 1) CTMP + conventional supei absoibent, 2) CTMP + conventional superabsorbent + lactic acid bacteria, 3) CTMP + partially neutralised superabsoibent, and 4) CTMP + lactic acid bacteria + partially neutralised superabsoibent.
• Figure 3 is a stack diagram illustrating the cultivation of Enterococcus faecalis m an absorbent article that contains 1) CTMP + conventional superabsorbent, 2) CTMP + conventional superabsorbent + lactic acid bacteria, 3) CTMP + partially neutralised superabsorbent, and 4) CTMP + lactic acid bacteria + partially neutralised superabsorbent
• Swedish Patent Application 9702298-2 describes an absorbent article that includes a pH- regulatmg substance m the form of a partially neutralised superabsorbent material which when wetted pioduces m the absoibent article a pH in the lange of 3 5-4 9 Such a pH value has been found to have a growth-inhibiting effect on undesirable microoigamsms in the article
• the activity of certain skm-affectmg enzymes, such as lipases and proteases, is also lmpaued
• an absorbent body may also include absorbent mate ⁇ al othei than partially neutralised supei absoibent mate ⁇ al Cellulose pulp is an example of one such material. It has been found beneficial to use a partially neutralised superabsorbent material according to the aforegoing in combination with cellulose that has a pH below 7, and preferably below 6.
• CTMP chemithermomechanical pulp
• the cellulose pulp can be given a suitable acidity by controlling the pH of the pulp during the manufacturing process, for instance by adding an acidifier.
• This acidif ⁇ er may, for instance, be S0 2 -water. Alternatively, an appropriate acid may be added to the finished pulp.
• cross-linked superabsorbent polyacrylates suitable for use in the present invention are described in EP 0,391,108.
• Other superabsorbent materials having the same properties as those aforesaid may also be used.
• a suitable proportion of superabsorbent material in the article is 5-100%, preferably 15-60% and most preferably
• SE 9702298-2 describes the relationship between the degree of neutralisation and the pH of the aforesaid superabsorbent material. It is evident that the degree of neutralisation will preferably be between 20% and 45%, and more preferably between 20% and 35%.
• the diaper 100 shown in Figure 1 includes a liquid-permeable casing sheet 1 made, for instance, of nonwoven material or of perforated plastic film, a liquid-impermeable casing sheet 2, made for instance of plastic film or hydrophobic nonwoven, and an absorbent body 3 enclosed between said casing sheets 1, 2.
• the diaper is intended to embrace the lower part of the wearer's trunk in the form of a pair of absorbent underpants. Accordingly, the diaper includes two end parts 4, 5 and a narrower crotch part 6 between said end parts, said crotch part being intended to be placed between the thighs of the wearer in the crotch region when in use.
• the diaper includes fastener tabs 7 close to the rear waist edge 8 of the diaper, so as to enable the diaper to be secured in the desired pants-like configuration. In use, the fastener tabs 7 are fastened to the front part 5 of the diaper, close to the front waist edge 9, so as to hold the diaper together around the wearer's waist.
• the diaper shown in Figure 1 also includes prestretched elastic devices 10, which may consist of elastic tape, wire covered elastic threads, elastic foam or some other suitable material.
• the elastic devices 10 have been shown in a stretched state in Figure 1. As soon as the tension in the elastic devices is released, the devices will contract and therewith form elastic leg openings on the diaper.
• the absorbent body 3 of the diaper embodiment shown in Figure 1 is comprised of two layers 11, 12, to wit an upper liquid acquisition layer 11 and a lower liquid storing and liquid dispersing layer 12.
• the upper acquisition layer 11 shall be capable of receiving large volumes of liquid over a short period of time, i.e. shall have a high instantaneous liquid absorption capacity, whereas the lower liquid storing and dispersing layer 12 shall have a high liquid dispersion capacity and shall be able to drain liquid from the acquisition layer 11 and disperse this liquid in the storage and dispersion layer 12.
• the differences in the respective properties of the two layers 11 and 12 can be achieved by a ⁇ anging for differences in density, wherewith a more densely compressed fibre structure will disperse liquid more effectively than a co ⁇ esponding fibre structure of lower density, which as a result of its larger pore size has a higher instantaneous liquid absorption capacity and a lower liquid dispersion capacity.
• Differences in the absorption capacity of the two layers can also be achieved with the aid of different fibre structures that have mutually different properties. For instance, chemically produced cellulose fluff pulp has a higher liquid dispersion capacity than, e.g., pulp that is produced mechanically or chemithermomechanically, so-called CTMP.
• a fibre structure that contains chemically stiffened cellulose fibres will also have a higher liquid absoiption capacity but lower liquid dispersion capacity than conventional chemical pulp.
• Natural fibre wadding or fluffy nonwoven material are examples of other materials suitable for use in the acquisition layer 11.
• a pH-lowering substance in the form of a partially neutralised superabsorbent is mixed in with the upper liquid acquisition layer 11 of the absorbent body 3. This part of the absorbent body 3 also includes lactic acid bacteria.
• a partially neutralised superabsorbent that functions as a pH-regulating substance has a lower total absorption capacity and a slower absorption rate than conventional superabsorbent.
• One advantage with placing such a superabsorbent in the upper part of the absorbent body closest to the wearer is that the risk of swollen superabsorbent lumping together is reduced in this way.
• a common problem is so-called gel blocking caused by clumping of swollen superabsorbent. Gel blocking implies that when the superabsorbent is wetted it forms a gel that blocks the pores in the porous structure and therewith impedes the transportation of liquid from the wetting region to other parts of the absorbent structure.
• a conventional superabsorbent is mixed in the lower liquid storage and liquid dispersion layer 12 of the absorbent body 3.
• One advantage afforded by placing conventional superabsorbent in the lower liquid storage layer 12 is that a conventional superabsorbent has a higher total absoiption capacity than a partially neutralised superabsorbent that has a pH-regulating effect.
• the absorbent body may include both partially neutralised superabsorbent and conventional superabsorbent, both of said superabsorbents being distributed uniformly in both the upper layer and the lower layer of the absorbent body.
• Fmthermore it is feasible to use only one type of superabsorbent material in addition to cellulose fluff pulp. In such cases, the superabsorbent material has the form of a superabsorbent which will also function as a pH-regulating substance.
• Layers other than the liquid acquisition layer 11 in the absorbent body 3 may also include lactic acid bacteria, and it is also feasible to include lactic acid bacteria on/in the liquid permeable casing sheet of said article.
• Tests were carried out while using sterile synthetic urine that included a microorganism growth medium.
• the synthetic urine contained monoions, divalent ions, cations and anions and the urine was prepared in accordance with information contained in Geigy, Scientific Tables, Vol. 2, 8th Ed., 1981, page 53.
• the microorganism growth medium was based on information concerning Hook and FSA media for enterobacteria.
• the mixture had a pH of 6.6.
• Absorbent bodies were produced with the aid of a slightly modified sample body former according to SCAN C 33:80.
• Fluff pulp and superabsorbent material of a desired type were weighed-up and a uniform mixture of fluff pulp and superabsorbent material then passed in an air stream at a subpressure of about 85 mbar through a tube having a diameter of 5 cm and provided with a metal bottom net on which thin tissue had been placed.
• the mixture of fluff pulp and superabsorbent material was collected on the tissue on the metal net and formed the absorbent body.
• the absorbent body was then weighed and compressed to a bulk density of 6-12 cm 3 /g.
• the absorbent bodies contained 0.85 g CTMP and 0.15 g superabsorbent material.
• Absorbent bodies were prepared in accordance with the above method. Synthetic urine was prepared in accordance with the aforegoing. Escherichia coli (E.c.) and Enterococcus faecalis (E.f) were cultivated in nutrient broth (Nutrient Broth Oxoid CM1) overnight at a temperature of 30°C. The graft cultures were diluted and the bacteria contents calculated. The cultures were mixed in different proportions, so that the final culture mix contained about 10 4 organisms per ml of synthetic mine.
• E.c. Escherichia coli
• E.f Enterococcus faecalis
• Enterococcus faecalis Type of absorbent body O h 4 h 8 h 12 1
• composition SAP Partially neutralised superabsorbent

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Microbiology (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
• Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
• Solid-Sorbent Or Filter-Aiding Compositions (AREA)
• Micro-Organisms Or Cultivation Processes Thereof (AREA)

Priority Applications (10)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (18)

Cited By (22)

Families Citing this family (13)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 1998
  • 1998-12-16 SE SE9804390A patent/SE513261C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1999
  • 1999-12-14 TN TNTNSN99241A patent/TNSN99241A1/fr unknown
  • 1999-12-15 EP EP99964874A patent/EP1140226B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-12-15 JP JP2000587820A patent/JP4671508B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-12-15 DE DE69930162T patent/DE69930162T3/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-12-15 ES ES99964874T patent/ES2259244T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-12-15 BR BRPI9916291A patent/BR9916291B8/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-12-15 AT AT99964874T patent/ATE318621T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-12-15 SK SK801-2001A patent/SK8012001A3/sk unknown
  • 1999-12-15 AU AU30911/00A patent/AU761090B2/en not_active Expired
  • 1999-12-15 CA CA002352308A patent/CA2352308C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-12-15 PL PL99348917A patent/PL194287B1/pl unknown
  • 1999-12-15 US US09/856,562 patent/US6649806B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-12-15 WO PCT/SE1999/002369 patent/WO2000035502A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-12-15 RU RU2001119447/15A patent/RU2230576C2/ru active
  • 1999-12-15 KR KR1020017007335A patent/KR20010101183A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-12-16 CO CO99078834A patent/CO5241358A1/es active IP Right Grant
• 2001
  • 2001-05-23 ZA ZA200104232A patent/ZA200104232B/en unknown

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